Spirit-level.



Patented Sept. 4, I900.

C. L. NEWTON. SPIRIT LEVEL. (Applictxtion filed June 28, 1900.,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Gzj wm 9 said shaft.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. NEWTON, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

SPIRIT- LEVEL.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,443, dated September 4, 1900.

Application filed June28, 1900.

' ment of levels which may be used for all purposes in which a common level and an inclinometer are used.

A further object is to produce a level which will be compact in form, simple in construction and operation, which can be manufactured and sold at a small cost, and which is well adapted to. the.

purpose for which it is designed.

With these and other objectsin view my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure '1 is a side elevation of my device, showing it applied to a shaft, as for the purpose of obtaining a number of points along a straight line on said shaft or to find a point above and in a perpendicular line with the center of said shaft. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the level on a shaft to obtain points at any angle to other points on Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line x m of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of my device, showing the hinged portion folded against the main frame. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same, showing the hinged portion unfolded and the device applied to a shaft in a similar manner and for the same purpose as in Fig.

1. Fig. 6 is a similar-view showing the device applied in a similar manner and for the same purpose as in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a side elevation illustrating another and simpler form of my device. Fig. 8 is a similar view of still another form.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the mainframe of the level, consisting of a rectangular plate 2, provided on its top, bottom, and end edges Serial No. 21,978. \No model.)

with a flange. 3, projecting on both sides of the plate. The frame 1 isformed on its bottom edge midway between the ends with an inverted-V or wedge shaped notch l for a purpose hereinafter to appear.

4 denotes a movable prick-punch mounted to slide in a vertical guideway or slot formed in an enlarged central portion of the plate 2 and is held in its adjusted positions by means of a set-screw 5, the point of said punch being thus allowed to engage shafts of different right angles to the level-glass 6 for obtaining perpendicular lines or planes in a manner common to ordinary levels.

7 denotes a movable glass mounted in the opposite side of the punch of the frame, the plate 2 being provided here with a circular opening 8, the periphery of which is provided with an annular tongue or flange 9. The protecting-casing of the glass 7 is formed on its ends with lugs or extensions 7, which bear on one side of the annular flange 9, and 10 denotesanannular band or ring rigidly connected to the casing 7 in such manner that the outer edge of the band or .ring 10 will bear on the opposite side of the annular flange 9. By this construction it will be seen that the glass 7 is mounted in the frame 1, so that it may be turned to any angle. The face of the annular ring or band is provided with a scale of degrees beginning with O at a point diametrically opposite the center of the hubble in theglass 7 and extending along the ring on both sides of this point to ninety degress, or the degree at a right angle.

A mark or scratch 13 is formed on the frame 1 at a point which when the level and the glass 7 are in an exact horizontal position will be diametrically opposite or perpendicular to the center of the bubble in the glass 7, or in line with the 0 mark on the on a shaft, adjust the inclined sides of the notch 1 'HQQIDIMQ pentpheny ofqashaftor cylinder so that the bubble in the rigid glass is in the center of the view-opening of its pro- 5 tective casing. A light tap with a hammer on the prick-punch will mark a point at that posifionp at th s along thestatto cyt inder wherever a point is required in line with the first one. In order to get a point or points at any angle to the above-described' points and on either side thereof, the movable level-glass and its attached ring or band are slid around on the annular tongue or flange 9 until the desired angle of degreeon'.

the said ring is in line with the scratch onthe frame. The instrument is now adjusted. on the shaft until the bubble in the. movable glass 7 is in the center of the view-opening of its shell or casing and the pointon thel 2o shaft where the punch.touches-willv be. the;

angle indicated by the scale. on the ring or band 10. In order to get a point at ninety; degrees, or at right angles to the position, shown in Fig. l, I would use the vertical glass 6 in preference to using the movable glass, and when using the vertical glass 6.

for the purpose iust statedthe instrument is simply adjusted around theshaft until the bubble in the glass 6 is in the center of the i 0 view-opening,-at which time thepoint touched the prick-punch is just ninety degrees from the point formerly indicated by said punch. V In Figs. 4,5, and. 6 of the drawings isillus- 3 5. trated a modified form of level. In this form V I use but one glass 14, which is similar in,

. construction and operation to theglass 7., but,

which-in thisinstance is ounted in a hiaged frame pivoted to thetop and bottom sides of 4o a main frame 15 to fold between the same. 1 The lower edge of the frame 15 is. provided;

with an inverted-V-shaped slot or groove 16,

extending lengthwise of the frame 15, and near one end of the said frame is arranged the vertically-adjustable punch 17. To. use this form of the instrument as common level for horizontal work, theparts are folded in the position shown in Fig. i. To, use the.

. same for the purposes described in Figs, 1

and 2 in connection with. the first-described" form, the parts are unfolded, and thereby turned at right angles to its position leng;th-.

wise the body of the-level and arranged as shown in Figs. 5'and 6.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings I have shownaf modification of my device as'illustrated in]; In thisi'nstanee I do away 1 with the movable glass and simply employ 1 Figs. 1, 2, and '3.

mounted at right angles to each ether in ihe frame; 1, and'nse thesame-ima manner similar to that described in connection with the form shown in the first three figures.

-In Fig. 8 I have shown a modification of my device as illustrated in Figs. ,4, 5, and 6 of theldraw in'ge. In thisiustance I also do away with the movable glass and employ fixed horizo ntal and vertical glasses 14' and 14 and use the same in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figs. 4:, 5,v and 6. 'It is obvious that the inverted-V-shaped '"slot in all the forms of my level might be of tether shapewsuch, for instance, assemicircular. I

From the foregoing descriptiomtaken in connection with the aceompanyin g drawings,

the construction and o geration of my device will be readily understood, and a further deseri ption of the same is notdeemed necessary, audit is obvious that the invention may be aput to many uses not mentioned herein.

Various changes in the form and construction of my device may be made without departing from the principle orsacrificing any ;of thejadvantages, of this invention.

Having thus described my invention and poin-ted out its merits, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a spirit-level of the class described, the. combination of a main frame having j mounted therein one or more fixed spirit-level glasses, a movable frame carrying a spiritl'evel glass, thesaid movableframe rotatably mounted in said main frame,an inverted-V- shaped notch or recess providedin the lower edgeof said frame, an adjustable puneh'or prick mounted to move vertically in said frame and means for holding said punch in ,j its adjusted position, substantially as and for l the purposes described.

2. In a spirit-level of the class described, ,.the combination of a. main frame having mounted near one end thereof a verticallydisposed adjustable punch, a hinged frame pivoted to and adapted to be folded by Said Q-main frame, a r atably-mounted spirit-lev glass. and a scale of degrees carried by said ,7 hinged frame, an inverted-V-shaped longitudinally-disposed groove or recess formed in I the lower edge of said main frame, substanlit za y as and r the purposes set. forth.

' In testimony whereofI have hereunto set hand in presence of two subscribing witne ses r V CHARLES L. NEWTON.

Witnesses:

LILLIAN LITZ,

fixed horizontal and vertical glasses 6 and 6 1 JOHN STANTON. 

